Pastor's Letter

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Dear church family,

I’m sure you’ve heard this prayer before.  It might be hanging on your wall, refrigerator, or keychain.  You might repeat it as a breath prayer to stay focused and grounded.  It’s known as the Serenity Prayer.  It was written by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1930s and has since been popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery groups, for very good reason.  It’s a pithy and powerful reminder of both our human limitations and our human responsibility.  And the hinge on which those characteristics turn is what we call wisdom.

Wisdom.  Like so many words, this is one we toss around without much consideration.  What does it really mean?  One of my seminary professors, Ellen Davis, defines wisdom as “living in the world in such a way that God, and God’s intentions for the world, are acknowledged in all that we do.”  I like that.  It reminds us that wisdom is grounded in God and God’s good purposes for all that he has made.  In this light, Davis asks, “how many people do you know whom you would describe as wise?”  If we’re honest, the answer might be less than we think.

Yet wisdom is not unattainable.  Nor is it only reserved for the super-spiritual.  Rather, it is something God calls all of us to cultivate as we follow him and grow in grace.  “If any of you lacks wisdom,” the book of James says, “you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  The prime example of this is the book of Proverbs.  In contrast to other books of the Bible, Proverbs is not a narrative or a letter but a list of sayings that reorient the reader (or hearer) to God and his way of wisdom.  It’s a book to be read slowly and deliberately, the way a cow chews its cud. 

For these reasons, I will be starting a new sermon series on Proverbs on October 10.  We won’t cover it all, but we will hit the high notes.  As we do, I will be praying that God would grant us wisdom – wisdom that helps us understand what we can change and what we can’t; wisdom that helps us make decisions, even when we’re all feeling decision fatigue; wisdom that helps us discern the truth amid so many mistruths and half-truths; wisdom that leads us to love the Lord and to love our neighbors, in Jesus’ name.  This wisdom is needed today as much as ever, friends.  I hope you’ll join us in this fall season as we seek the way of wisdom together.

See you Sunday,
Blake

Pastor's Letter

“And so, it is those we live with and should know who elude us.  But we can still love them.  We can love completely without complete understanding.”
– Rev. Maclean, A River Runs Through It

Dear church family,

One of my favorite books is Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It.  I am the father of sons and a Presbyterian pastor living in the mountains, so this shouldn’t surprise you, as Maclean’s story takes place in a very similar relational and geographical setting.  Towards the end of the book (and the film based on it), Norman’s father, the Rev. Maclean, delivers a sermon in which he reflects on a struggle within his family.  In it he shares those potent words in the quotation above.

Let those sentences wash over you, especially the last one: “We can love completely without complete understanding.”  The Rev. Maclean said this in regards to his son, Paul, who struggled with gambling and alcoholism and died too young.  As a father, what could he have done?  What’s within his control?  The Pastor is racked with confusion.  Yet in the face of uncertainty, he learned to love.

This is my hope for myself, you, and our church family today: that we would learn to love, and love completely — even without complete understanding. 

It’s no secret that these are difficult days and we’re all stretched thin.  Other people, even those we live with and know, will elude us.  They will rub us the wrong way.  They will do things we do not agree with or that we do not understand.  Heck, I, as your pastor, will do things you do not agree with or understand.  What can we do?  What are we in control of?  We can love completely, even without complete understanding. 

Notice, this doesn’t mean we should turn off our brains.  This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t engage in healthy arguments when the time is right.  This certainly doesn’t mean we should say yes to blatant evil or sin.  I am not saying any of these things.  But I am saying we can grow in love – love that flows from the heart of God revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And we can let this love be the guide, the rule, the plumb line that keeps everything else in check.

Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

This is the spirit behind our upcoming book study.  Starting September 8, we will be reading A Gentle Answer: Our “Secret Weapon” In an Age of Us Against Them by Scott Sauls on Wednesday nights.  Join us.  Even if you can’t make it, I encourage you to get the book and read along from afar.  Sauls does a wonderful job of naming the challenges of our present age with humor and hope.  You may not agree with everything he says.  You may not understand everything he says.  But I hope you will see how he points us to Jesus, the only one who truly loves completely – and in whom we can learn to love as well.

See you Sunday,
Blake

Fall Book Study

Join friends at First Presbyterian Church for a study of the book A Gentle Answer: Our “Secret Weapon” in An Age of Us Against Them by Scott Sauls.

Meetings will take place from 6:30-7:30pm in the Pavilion.  Please notify the Church Office or Pastor Blake if you need childcare and/or if you have other questions.  Copies of the book are available for purchase at City Lights bookstore, or you can purchase one on your own.  Bring a friend and we hope to see you there!

Schedule:

• Sept. 8 - Chapter 1 – He Befriends the Sinner in Us

• Sept. 15 - Chapter 2 – He Reforms the Pharisee in Us

• Sept. 22 - Chapter 3 – He Disarms the Cynic in Us

• Sept. 29 - Chapter 4 – We Grow Thicker Skin

• Oct. 6 - Chapter 5 – We Do Anger Well

• Oct. 13 - Chapter 6 – We Receive Criticism Graciously

• Oct. 20 - No Meeting

• Oct. 27 - Chapter 7 – We Forgive All the Way

• Nov. 3 - Chapter 8 – We Bless Our Own Betrayers

New Music Director

At the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, the Session unanimously approved the hire of Courtney Umphlett as our new Music Director on Aug. 9! Courtney has been serving as our Children's Ministry Director for the past four and a half years, and she will move into this new role as soon as we can hire a replacement for her current position.

Please join me in thanking our Music Director Search Committee (Steve Baxley, Kathy Grace, Amanda Murajda, and Peg Shafer) for their diligent work in this job search, as well as Margaret Hale for her faithful service as our Organist/Pianist during this transition. Please also be in prayer for our Personnel Committee as they begin searching for a new Children's Ministry Director and continue searching for a new Administrative Assistant and Child Care Attendant.

FPC Safety Update

In an effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, to care for the most vulnerable members of our population, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, the elders unanimously voted on Aug. 9 to make the following changes to our safety protocols:

• Masks will once again be required for worship and all indoor gatherings as long as Jackson County is in the "red" (high) or "orange" (substantial) community transmission categories, regardless of vaccination status. When Jackson County moves to the "yellow" (moderate) or "blue" (low) categories, masks will then be optional. (You can click here to read more about these categories.) Should we change categories between Session meetings, then whatever was decided at the previous Session meeting will hold until the next meeting.

• We continue to encourage social distancing and the use of our outdoor spaces as much as possible.

• External groups may use our church facilities provided that they abide by these safety requirements.

• Our online worship offering will continue to be available for those who prefer to join us in worship from home.

• Our 80th Anniversary Celebration, originally scheduled for Sept. 26, has been postponed.

If you have any questions about these updates, do not hesitate to contact our Pastor or one of the elders. As always, we are so grateful for your grace, patience, and flexibility as we adapt to these ever-changing times. May the Lord bless us in our mission to make disciples who love Jesus Christ, love the church, and love their neighbors as themselves.

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
August 1, 2021
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost & Communion Sunday

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship: from Psalm 103

Leader: Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
People: Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Leader: The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
People: He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
Leader: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
People: Praise the Lord!

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Exodus 16:1-15

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — Cloudy With a Chance of Manna — Rev. Blake Daniel

A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

The Lord's Supper will be served by intinction and also with prepared communion kits.
The kits are available in the entry hallway. We encourage you to do what you are comfortable with.

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

Leader: The Lord be with you!
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Words of Institution, Communion of the People, and Prayer after Communion

Benediction

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
July 25, 2021
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship: Psalm 136:1-3, 23-26

Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
People: His love endures forever.
Leader: Give thanks to the God of gods.
People: His love endures forever.
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
People: His love endures forever.
Leader: He remembered us in our low estate.
People: His love endures forever.
Leader: He freed us from our enemies.
People: His love endures forever.
Leader: He gives food to every creature.
People: His love endures forever.
Leader: Give thanks to the God of heaven.
People: His love endures forever.

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Exodus 13:17-14:31

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — The Exodus — Rev. Blake Daniel

A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith: from The Theological Declaration of Barmen

As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us a joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to his creatures. We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords... Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body is joined and knit together.

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
July 18, 2021
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship: Psalm 24:7-11

Leader: Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
People: Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Leader: Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
People: Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory.
Leader: As the people of God, let us worship the Lord!

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:1–4; John 3:25–30

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — Complete Joy — Rev. Noah McIntee

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith: from The Heidelberg Catechism

Leader: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
People: That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
July 11, 2021
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship: Isaiah 40:28-31

Leader: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
People: He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Leader: He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
People: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
Leader: They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
People: As the people of God, let us praise the Lord.

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession: from Psalm 25

Leader: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
People: Do not remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoing; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Leader: Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
People: For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Leader: Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. (Silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Exodus 12:1-14

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — The Passover— Rev. Blake Daniel

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Mission Moment: Tim & Jenna Reed

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
July 4, 2021
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost & Communion Sunday

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship: from Psalm 48

Leader: Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
People: Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth.
Leader: Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
People: Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Leader: Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments.
People: For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Exodus 6:1-12

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — The Liberating Lord — Rev. Blake Daniel

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith: The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.  For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.  On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. 

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper 

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

Leader:  The Lord be with you.
Response:  And also with you.
Leader:  Lift up your hearts.
Response:  We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Response:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Words of Institution, Communion of the People, and Prayer after Communion

Benediction

Celebrating 80 Years

Dear church family,

It was eighty years ago that the First Presbyterian Church of Sylva was formed.  Up until this point, there had never been a Presbyterian congregation in Jackson County.  Those who were committed to this expression of the Christian faith had to travel elsewhere for worship and fellowship in the Reformed tradition.  That is, until a group of women, led by Elizabeth Cope and Roberta Hooper, starting meeting for Bible study in homes across Sylva.  The Lord formed within them an imagination for something new and different: a Presbyterian church in the town they loved.  Soon thereafter, with backing from the nearby Bryson City Presbyterian Church, they formally organized a congregation in the Legion Building.  The date was June 4, 1941, and there were 12 charter members.  Our church family, as a part of the larger body of Christ, was born.

November 1949

Over the next eight years, amidst the challenges of World War II, the church grew.  We acquired land and eventually built a sanctuary and Fellowship Hall in 1949.  Much has happened in the meantime, of course.  Folks have come and gone, our buildings have expanded, and our town has grown.  But one thing has stayed as constant as the Plott Balsam mountains: our commitment to love one another, to love our community, and to love Jesus Christ, who first loved us.

In honor of this eightieth anniversary, we will be holding a special celebration on Sunday, September 26.  The celebration will begin with a worship service at 11:00am, during which we will hear and respond to God’s Word as we have done every week for the past eight decades.  Following the service, we will move to the church pavilion for a barbecue lunch, in which we will celebrate our past and once again dedicate our future to the glory of God.  This celebration is being coordinated by a Session-approved task force, so please let us know if you have ideas or support you would like to contribute.

Celebrating is always important, but it seems especially necessary given the year we have all endured.  We hope this celebration will be a homecoming and revival of sorts, with friends new and old joining together in the name of Jesus and recommitting themselves to his way of life and love.  As Jackie Painter wrote in her reflections on our fiftieth anniversary, “The work of this church has not always gone smoothly, but each year has given the people blessings and strength.  Isaiah 40:31 tells us, ‘Yet those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.’”

Whether we wait, mount up, run, or walk (or all of the above), I hope you will join us for this celebration and other upcoming events in our life together.  God is doing great things in Sylva, Jackson County, and all over the world.  And like those who have come before us, we have a part to play.

See you Sunday,
Blake

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
June 27, 2021
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship

Leader: Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
People: We are here to offer God our worship and praise.
Leader: Before God formed you in your mother’s womb, God knew you.
People: Before we drew our first breath, God consecrated us in holy love.
Leader: Let us worship the One who knows and loves us.
People: Let us worship the One who is our rock and our fortress in times of trouble.
Leader: Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
People: We are here to offer God our worship and praise!

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

Most gracious God, we confess that we should be one, caring, and loving community around Your table, but too often we are not. In local churches, and throughout the world in churches and denominations who profess to be serving the same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, there are things that keep us apart: pride, mistrust, grudges, and petty jealousies. By yielding to them, we allow our unity to be weakened and our witness to be impaired. Have mercy on us, O God. Renew our commitment to the peace and unity of Your Church. After breaking bread around Your table, may we be more consistent in loving each other and our brothers and sisters in this community and throughout the world. In Jesus' name we pray. (Silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: Love keeps no record of complaints, trespasses, or sins.
People: Love does not condemn.
Leader: Instead, love generates honesty and authenticity, and opens its arms to forgiveness and acceptance.
People: As we confess our sins, we find peace, knowing God has healed us with mercy and grace.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:17-22, 12:28-13:13

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — A More Excellent Way — Rev. Bob Abel

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 Responsive Benediction

Leader: God sends us forth with words of love on our lips.
People: Christ sends us forth with acts of love in our deeds.
Leader: The Spirit sends us forth with the spirit of love sustaining our very lives.
All: Let us go in the power of God’s love to be ambassadors of Christ’s love and peace.

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
June 20, 2021
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship — Psalm 9:9-12

Leader: The Lord is a safe place for the oppressed – a safe place in difficult times.
People: Those who know your name trust you because you have not abandoned any who seek you, Lord.
Leader: Sing praises to the Lord, who lives in Zion! Proclaim his mighty acts among all people!
People: Because the one who avenges bloodshed remembers those who suffer; the Lord hasn’t forgotten their cries for help.
Leader: As the people of God, let us worship the Lord!

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

God of grace, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. (Silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:1-15

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — The Burning Bush

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith – from The Scots Confession

We confess and acknowledge one God alone, to whom alone we must cleave, whom alone we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom alone we put our trust. Who is eternal, infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent, invisible; one in substance and yet distinct in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. By whom we confess and believe all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, to have been created, to be retained in their being, and to be ruled and guided by his inscrutable providence for such end as his eternal wisdom, goodness, and justice have appointed, and to the manifestation of his own glory.

Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer

Benediction

Fourth of July cookout!

Bring the family and join us for a Fourth of July cookout in the church pavilion at 6:00 p.m.! Visitors and guest are welcome, and feel free to stick around for fireworks put on at dark by the Town of Sylva.

For our meal, the church will provide hotdogs and buns, and we will need the following:

• Drinks (sweet and unsweet tea, lemonade, water)

• Condiments (relish, ketchup, mustard, onion)

• Easy sides (chips, sliced watermelon, etc.)

• Easy desserts (cookies, brownies, etc.)

You can sign up on the sheet in the church Fellowship Hall, or by contacting Emily at office@sylvapres.org.

See you there!

Processing the Past Year

A lot has happened in the past 15 months. Join us for an hour-long conversation in which we catch up and ask, "Where has God been in all this?"

What we hope to talk about: Our experiences of God's presence (or absence) during the pandemic, personal joys and concerns revealed in the past year, and next steps and Spirit-leadings for ourselves and our life together as the coronavirus, Lord-willing, comes to an end.

What we will try not to talk about: politics, vaccines, masks, and other COVID protocols, not because these topics are not worth talking about, but because they can be divisive and would require well over an hour to adequately discuss!

Questions? Contact the church office or Pastor Blake.

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
June 13, 2021
Third Sunday after Pentecost

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship — Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15

Leader: It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
People: For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
Leader: The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
People: They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
Leader: As the people of God, let us worship the Lord!

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Exodus 1:22-2:10

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — Moses & God's Mercy

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith – The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.  For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.  On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. 

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen..

Benediction

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
June 6, 2021
Third Sunday after Pentecost

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship — from Psalm 138

Leader: I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
People: I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Leader: When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.
People: May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. 
Leader: Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
People: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.
Leader: You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.
People: The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands!

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Exodus 1

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — What's Your Story?

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

Leader:  The Lord be with you!
Response:  And also with you.
Leader:  Lift up your hearts.
Response:  We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Response:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Words of Institution, Communion of the People, and Prayer after Communion

Benediction

New Sermon Series!

Dear church family,

In a recent sermon, I mentioned that I’ve been reading through a new biography of Eugene Peterson, the beloved Presbyterian pastor who died in 2018.  It is called “A Burning in My Bones,” and I commend it to all of you.  It offers a beautiful look into a pastor’s life (and, more so, a Christian’s life), revealing the heart of someone who sought to follow Jesus along the dusty road of discipleship.

One aspect of the book stood out to me, which was Peterson’s commitment to Bible reading.  As a preacher, teacher, and author, Peterson was constantly immersed in Scripture.  At the same time, he recognized the ways that we get Scripture wrong.  We mishandle it and thus fail to experience its riches.  We so often treat the Bible like a textbook, or even like the phone book (does anybody use phonebooks anymore?!) that we fail to see it as God’s book, intended less for our information and more for our transformation.  Yet that is precisely why God gave it to us.

Peterson himself once wrote:

The challenge… regarding the Christian Scriptures is getting them read, but read on their own terms, as God’s revelation.  It seems as if it would be the easiest thing in the world… But as it turns out, in this business of living the Christian life, ranking high among the most neglected aspects is one having to do with the reading of the Christians Scriptures.  Not that Christians don’t own and read their Bibles.  And not that Christians don’t believe their Bibles are the word of God.  What is neglected is reading the Scriptures formatively, reading in order to live.

“Reading in order to live.”  I like that.  It’s what I hope we, as a congregation, are doing every Sunday, and on the days in between.  We read in order to live.  When we worship, we come into the presence of God and are sent back out by God.  And at the center of that rhythm is the Word – the written Word that bears witness to the living Word, King Jesus.  We Christians read, listen, and respond in order to live.

If you’re like me, you could use a refresher on this kind of reading.  Things have been so out of whack for the past 15 months that we may have fallen out of practice!  So why not make a fresh start?  Why not clear away the clutter and recommit yourself to a practice of daily Scripture reading and prayer, with weekly Sunday worship as your anchoring point?

Beginning this Sunday, June 6, I will be preaching through the Old Testament book of Exodus.  This is, hands down, one of my favorite books in the Bible – for good reason.  Exodus tells the story of Moses, the great hero of God’s people, Israel; and the story of God’s mercy, which carried the people out of slavery, through the wilderness, and into the promised land.  Because of this, Exodus remains the foundational story for the Jewish people today.  And it’s foundational for us Christians, too, as we turn our eyes to the new Moses, whose name is Jesus.

I want to invite you to read Exodus with me for the next three months.  Read Exodus not just for information, but for transformation.  Read Exodus the way you would enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Explore its rivers and trails, its mountaintops and valleys, its people and promise.  Find someone to read it with you.  Ask questions.  Wrestle with the text.  Pray.  This summer let’s find ourselves within this story – and the great Story of God – that we might truly live.

See you Sunday,
Blake

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
May 30, 2021
Trinity Sunday

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Prayer of Preparation

Holy, holy, holy God, we worship and adore you – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Today in our worship we long for a glimpse of your glory, seen perfectly in Christ, our Lord. As we worship, may we gain new insight about the mystery and wonder of your love. And may we sense new ways to mirror that love in our world, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship — from Psalm 29

Leader: Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
People: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Leader: The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
People: The voice of the Lord is powerful and majestic. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!"
Leader: The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
People: The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Leader: As the people of God, let us worship the Lord!

Opening Song

Prayer of Confession

God of grace, love, and communion, we confess that we have failed to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We ignore your commandments, stray from your way, and follow other gods. Have mercy on us. Forgive our sin and raise us to new life that we may serve you faithfully and give honor to your holy name. (Silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: May the peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1-5

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — The Exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith – from The Confession of 1967

Biblical visions and images of the rule of Christ, such as a heavenly city, a father’s house, a new heaven and earth, a marriage feast, and an unending day culminate in the image of the kingdom. The kingdom represents the triumph of God over all that resists his will and disrupts his creation. Already God’s reign is present as a ferment in the world, stirring hope in men and preparing the world to receive its ultimate judgment and redemption.

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

Worship from Home

A Service for the Lord’s Day
May 23, 2021
Pentecost Sunday

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Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship — Psalm 104:31-35

Leader: May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works.
People: He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
Leader: I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
People: May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.
Leader: But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more.
People: Praise the Lord, my soul.
Leader: Praise the Lord!

Opening Song

Call to Confession

Leader: The Spirit of the Lord fills the world and knows our every word and deed.
People: Let us then open ourselves to the Lord and confess our sins in humility and hope.

Prayer of Confession

Leader: God of grace, you poured your Spirit upon gathered disciples, creating bold tongues, open ears, and a new community of faith.
People: We confess that we hold back the force of your Spirit among us.
Leader: We do not listen for your word of grace.
People: We do not speak the good news of your love.
Leader: We do not live as a people made one in Christ.
People: Have mercy on us, O God.
Leader: Transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit, and fill us with a flaming desire to be your faithful people, doing your will for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon & Passing of the Peace

Leader: In Christ we were marked with the Holy Spirit as a seal of our redemption. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we become dead in sin but alive in Christ. May the peace of Christ be with you!
People: And also with you.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 29:4-7; Acts 2:1-13

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon — The Promotion of Social Righteousness

In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.

Hymn of Response

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially in the offering box in the entry hallway or by visiting our church webpage, dropping off a check at the church office, or mailing in a donation. 
Thank you!

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Affirmation of Faith – from The Confession of Belhar

We believe that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker; that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells; that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death, and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and enmity; that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world.

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction